To anyone who is growing Actinidia arguta or related species, i know that in the wild these species grow close to streams and fairly moist places, i'm curious if anyone has a mature vine on a dry hill or something like that they never irrigate and how that affects fruit yield and such. THANKS

I’ve two Actinidia arguta, or “Hardy Kiwi” vines. Just as the larger, ‘Fuzzy kiwi,’ the hardies appear to like a deep mulch and regular summer watering. A year ago I failed to keep up with the watering and attribute that to the death of one of my 2 hardy kiwis… Wasn’t an extremely hot summer, just neglect on my part, but it ‘proved’ to me that they need summer irrigation here in the Willamette Valley.

They’re not as resourceful as grape vines. Grapes, after some watering for the first 3 or so years, will send their roots wherever necessary to find water. Hardy Kiwi appear to me, as you pointed out, more reliant on a water source, thus could not be expected to ‘one day’ fin for themselves, as grape vines do.

I talked to Lorraine, co-owner of One Green World, and she told me almost exactly what Viron just told you. They are also very sensitive to depth of planting.John SPDX OR

Fri Feb 14, 2014 10:44 pm

Marsha

Joined: Mon May 10, 2004 1:00 pmPosts: 204Location: SE Portland

Re: Do kiwis NEED irrigation?

I had soaker hoses supplying my pair, left the hoses dribbling for the entire dry season, and the plants were riotously happy. If you look at the size and juiciness of the leaves, you get a good idea of how much water a plant needs just for the foliage.

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